Spool File
Spooling is an operating system function that saves data in a spooled file for later processing or printing. Spool files work in a way similar to tape files or other device files. Spooled files can help you manage and queue your data targeted for externally attached devices, such as a printer.
A spool file holds output data until it can be printed or output. The spooled file collects data from a device until a program or device is able to process the data. Usually spool files are leveraged when the end device cannot function at the same speed as the source, and a program or application uses a spooled file as if it were reading from or writing to an actual device.
Spooling functions can help system users to manage input and output operations more efficiently. The system supports output spooling and input spooling. Output spooling can be used for printer devices. Input spooling applies to database file input.
At the end of a job, the job log can be written to spooled file QPJOBLOG to be printed. After the job log is written to the spooled file, the job log is deleted.
Spool files are not only used for print functions, but there are also tools that help you spool to digital format, including spool to pdf, spool to excel and more.